Outstanding Alumni & Faculty Awards

Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish, '71 BA, who received the Zimmerman Award given to a UNM alum who has brought fame and honor to UNM or New Mexico, is the first woman to serve in that capacity in New Mexico. A former small business owner, Diane has chaired the Democratic Party of New Mexico, New Mexico First, New Mexico Community Foundation, the state’s Commission on the Status of Women, and the New Mexico Tech Board of Regents. Children, education, health coverage, and small businesses top her legislative agenda.

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Henrietta Mann, '82 PhD, president of Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal College, received the Bernard S. Rodey Award for her contributions to higher education. A progenitor of Native American Studies, Henrietta holds the first endowed chair in that field at the University of Montana. Rolling Stone Magazine named her one of the top ten leading professors in the US. She has been honored as the Cheyenne Indian of the Year and the National American Indian Woman of the Year.

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Warren Heffron, UNM professor emeritus of family & community medicine, received the Erna S. Fergusson Award for exceptional accomplishments and community service. Warren founded the university's family medicine residency program, which has been ranked as one of the top 10 such programs in the nation by US News & World Report for 16 years. He travels worldwide to help communities set up their own family medicine programs using the UNM program as a model.

Bradley R. Ellingboe, UNM professor of music, received the UNM Alumni Association Faculty Award for outstanding teaching and service to students. Brad is director of choral activities at UNM, and conducts the Concert Choir, University Chorus (comprised of community members), and Las Cantantes, the women’s ensemble. King Harald V of Norway bestowed upon Brad the Medal of Saint Olav—the equivalent to Norwegian knighthood—for his contributions as a Grieg scholar. Brad also leads the chorus for the summer Tuscia Opera Festival in Viterbo, Italy—in which many UNM students will have the opportunity to sing.